17 Most Lovely Locations To Go to In New Mexico

I spent a month and a half touring round this intriguing state, and it shortly grew to become clear why it was chosen because the setting for one in all TV’s most iconic collection! From mesmerizing geological wonders and white desert sands to historical pueblos and colourful adobe cities, these are the locations that made me fall exhausting for the Land of Enchantment…

1. Santa Fe

I fell exhausting for this historical U.S. metropolis, with its glowing adobe partitions, maze of art-filled streets, and wealthy historical past set beneath crisp mountain skies. Though, I personally thought the true magic was within the ambiance – it had this soulful, artistic pulse with an undercurrent of calm that made it really feel each alive and peaceable! 

It took simply over an hour to succeed in Santa Fe from Albuquerque by way of the scenic Turquoise Path, a drive full of desert landscapes and quirky little cities – I stayed for 3 days and beloved each second.

I spent my time wandering the historic Plaza, exploring Canyon Street’s galleries, visiting the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and San Miguel Chapel, and searching fascinating Native crafts on the Palace of the Governors. I additionally beloved seeing the combo of Native American, Spanish, and Anglo influences within the buzzy markets, flavorful delicacies, and colourful festivals!

• Location: northern a part of the state
• Map Location
• Dimension: inhabitants round 90,500
  

My favourite highlights…

• Staying on the distinctive La Fonda on the Plaza Lodge – I beloved the rooftop sizzling tub and decor which included domestically crafted tin chandeliers, colourful Talavera tiles, and authentic Pueblo-style paintings! 
• Eating on a veggie burrito smothered in crimson and inexperienced Christmas chile and paired with creamy pinto beans and saffron-tinged rice on the enjoyable Shed Restaurant!

2. White Sands Nationwide Park 

This was really one of the crucial dazzling pure wonders I’ve ever seen—an countless sea of wave-like white gypsum dunes that shimmered and altered coloration underneath the desert solar, giving it a dreamy, otherworldly vibe!

I drove 3.5 hours southwest from the Blue Gap of Santa Rosa, chopping via quirky Roswell and all the way down to the glowing white gypsum dunes close to Alamogordo, the place I spent a day exploring and an evening on the close by quirky Basic Desert Aire Lodge. 

From mountaineering the Dune Life Nature Path and sledding the glowing dunes to becoming a member of a ranger-led stroll and watching the sundown set the desert aglow – it was a day I gained’t neglect in a rush that’s for positive!

My favourite highlights…

• The ranger-led stroll from the customer heart, we noticed uncommon wildlife just like the white sands extremely hardy pupfish (which survived in desert harsh situations!), yucca vegetation adapting to the transferring dunes, and even noticed a half-buried picnic desk being swallowed by the shifting sands!

3. Albuquerque

Albuquerque actually shocked me – New Mexico’s largest metropolis was much more scenic than I anticipated, with the Sandia Mountains rising behind it, wealthy Southwestern mild, and a mix of adobe-style buildings, Spanish church buildings, and daring murals that gave Outdated City and downtown a lot coloration and character.

I beloved the vibe most although – it was effortlessly cool and inventive, mixing Southwestern heritage, retro Route 66 attraction, and a touch of recent metropolis power.

I landed at Albuquerque Worldwide Sunport, grabbed a rental automobile to start out my highway journey, however caught round for 3 days to discover – wandering the adobe-filled Outdated City, driving the Sandia Peak Tramway (the views had been epic!), visiting the Indian Pueblo Cultural Heart, and recognizing daring murals down Central Avenue.

As an enormous Breaking Unhealthy fan, I additionally hung out visiting all of the acquainted backdrops as this metropolis was the present’s iconic filming location – I stood outdoors Walter White’s real-life automobile wash (Octopus Automotive Wash), drove previous his precise home, noticed Saul Goodman’s previous workplace, and stopped by The Canine Home Drive-In!

• Location: central New Mexico alongside the Rio Grande
• Map Location
• Dimension: inhabitants round 560,300 

My highlights… 

• Staying on the distinctive and classy 4-star ARRIVE Albuquerque – I beloved how they checked me in on the onsite espresso store and bar – not a standard foyer desk with a cup of fiery Chile Mocha in hand!

4. Bisti Badlands 

I believed this distant desert panorama felt completely otherworldly and surreally lovely – full of jagged hoodoos, rippling rock layers, and unusual formations just like the “Cracked Eggs,” all carved by time and wind into dramatic shades of crimson, gray, and beige. The silence and uncooked magnificence gave it a haunting, alien-like vibe.

I drove two hours northwest from Chaco Tradition Nationwide Historic Park and stayed for the weekend on the charming Casa Blanca Inn and Suites, mountaineering from the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness parking space to see the Cracked Eggs, photographing the hoodoos at sundown, and exploring the fossil-rich De-Na-Zin space close by.

• Deal with: Bisti Entry Street, Farmington, NM 87401
• Location: northwestern a part of the state
• Map Location
• Dimension: over 45,000 acres

My favourite highlights…

• Exploring the surreal “Cracked Egg” formations east of the Bisti/De-Na-Zin parking space – these clean, cut up boulders regarded like large fossilized eggs, with weathered ridges and marbled patterns that glowed within the desert mild! 

5. Taos Gorge Bridge

One of many highest bridges within the U.S., this spot completely wowed me – its dramatic span throughout the 650-foot-deep Rio Grande Gorge made for severely Insta-worthy views, with sheer cliffs, vast desert plains, distant peaks, and that dreamy Southwestern mild.

After a 2.5-hour drive from the Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railway, I reached Taos and my base within the cool and quirky Dreamcatcher B&B. From there I headed to only outdoors city to the Gorge Bridge, the bridge felt daring, lovely, and somewhat vertigo-inducing with these jaw-dropping canyon views.

I took my time strolling throughout the bridge’s pedestrian walkway – gazing down into the dramatic gorge, watching the sunshine play throughout the cliffs, and trying out the charming native crafts being bought on the relaxation space close by.

• Deal with: NM-570, Taos, NM 87571
• Map Location
• Greatest time to go to: spring, summer season, fall and winter
  

My highlights…

6. Bandelier Nationwide Monument

I believed this protected archaeological website was an absolute gem! Set in a dramatic canyon framed by volcanic cliffs, it was full of historical cave dwellings carved into gentle tuff rock, stone ruins like Tyuonyi Pueblo, and forested trails winding via a panorama wealthy in historical past and pure magnificence. I beloved its peaceable, virtually mystical vibe – steeped in historical tradition and surrounded by nature.

I made the 1.5-hour drive northwest from Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks to my Bandelier base, the quirky and comfy Pueblo Canyon Inn – winding via the Jemez Mountains and stopping alongside the way in which to absorb views of pine-filled valleys and dramatic crimson rock formations

My day was spent mountaineering the Most important Loop Path, climbing into the cliff dwellings of Frijoles Canyon, tracing petroglyphs close to the Tyuonyi Pueblo ruins, and trying out the fascinating shows on the customer heart.

• Deal with: 15 Entrance Rd, Los Alamos, NM 87544
• Location: northern a part of the state
• Map Location
• Dimension: over 33,000 acres

My favourite highlights…

• Climbing the picket ladders into the traditional Puebloan cliff dwellings carved into the canyon wall – I beloved seeing the soot-stained ceilings, stone rooms, and hand-carved alcoves that had been an intriguing perception into every day life centuries in the past! 

7. Blue Gap of Santa Rosa

I used to be completely in love with this pure artesian spring! The Blue Gap was a wonderfully spherical pool of startlingly clear, turquoise water, set proper in the midst of the desert – it created such a vivid distinction with the arid environment that it felt virtually otherworldly!

It had a enjoyable, refreshing, and barely surreal vibe – like stumbling upon a hidden oasis in the midst of the desert!

It was a scenic three-hour drive southeast from Wheeler Peak Wilderness throughout wide-open plains and mesas to the strikingly blue waters of Santa Rosa’s Blue Gap, the place I loved a peaceable afternoon after which stayed close by on the funky Lodge Blue 66 (which was only a 5 minute drive away). 

I swam within the cool, clear spring, watched scuba divers descend into the vivid blue depths, lounged underneath the bushes on the picnic space, and visited the close by heart to search out out what makes this place so particular.

• Deal with: 15 Blue Gap Rd, Santa Rosa, NM 88435
• Location: jap a part of the state
• Map Location
• Greatest time to go to: spring, summer season or fall
• Dimension: 80 toes deep, 60 toes vast

My private highlights…

• Picnicking within the shaded space close to the car parking zone was very best – I grabbed a spot underneath the cottonwood bushes at one of many sturdy sandstone tables and watched a couple of courageous swimmers leap from the rocks (in permitted areas) into the deep, blue spring — positively not for the faint of coronary heart!

8. Shiprock

I believed this towering volcanic rock was one thing really particular – shaped round 30 million years in the past, its jagged spire shot up from the flat desert like a pure monument, glowing with shifting colours. It felt highly effective and sacred, with a uncooked, distant magnificence that gave it a deep non secular power.

I drove an hour west from the Bisti Badlands, winding via distant Navajo Nation lands and placing desert surroundings, and spent an inspiring morning taking all of it in.

My morning was spent mountaineering a close-by path with views of the formation and joined a Navajo-guided tour that respectfully shared the realm’s cultural and non secular significance, and searching for domestically made rugs, jewellery, and crafts at roadside stalls!

• Deal with: Shiprock, NM 87420
• Map Location
• Greatest time to go to: spring and fall (for cooler temperatures)

My favourite highlights…

• Occurring a Navajo Excursions USA guided tour – my pleasant information instructed us legends of the rock, identified hidden petroglyphs and ceremonial websites, and alongside the way in which, they even identified native vegetation like juniper, sagebrush, and yucca, explaining how every has been utilized in conventional therapeutic rituals for generations.

9. Wheeler Peak Wilderness

I visited whereas I used to be exploring the Taos Mountain Path and set out on the Wheeler Peak trails proper from the bottom of Taos Ski Valley the place I used to be staying for 2 nights within the stylish 4-star Blake at Taos Ski Valley – no additional driving was wanted bonus!

I hiked the Wheeler Peak Summit Path from morning until late afternoon—picnicked beside Williams Lake, noticed elk and bighorn sheep within the wildflower-filled meadows, and paused typically simply to admire the unimaginable views from the highest.

• Deal with: NM-150, Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525
• Map Location 
• Dimension: 1,583 toes above the encircling desert

My favourite highlights…

• Exploring the difficult 5-hour Wheeler Peak Summit Hike which took me previous wind-twisted bristlecone pines, blue columbines and Indian paintbrushes – the unimaginable view from the summit of Wheeler Peak (the very best level in the entire state) made it price it!

10. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks Nationwide Monument

I believed this surreal geological marvel was jaw-dropping – cone-shaped formations carved by historical volcanic eruptions, set in opposition to excessive desert mesas and slender slot canyons. It felt placing, otherworldly, and filled with journey.

I made the 25 minute drive southwest from Santa Fe to my two day keep on the distinctive and great Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort, and from there I took a day journey driving to the park from right here in 50 minutes.

My day was packed – mountaineering the slender Slot Canyon Path, climbing to epic vistas on the Summit Path, and diving into the realm’s volcanic historical past on the customer heart.

My favourite highlights…

• Mountaineering the steep 3-mile Summit Path took me two hours, however the unimaginable ridge-top views over the monument made it price it, I noticed a scurrying desert spiny lizard and a cute canyon wren calling from the cliffs alongside the way in which!

11. A Street Journey Alongside the Rio Grande River

Following the river via New Mexico on this drive was one of the crucial photo-worthy experiences I had right here – each flip revealed crimson rock canyons, peaceable valleys, desert plains, and mountain peaks, with charming cities, sizzling springs, and jaw-dropping overlooks alongside the way in which.

I adopted the Rio Grande north from Carlsbad, passing via Fact or Penalties and quiet riverside cities – it had a laid-back, adventurous vibe that was good for sluggish journey and scenic detours. I notably beloved how driving alongside these desert highways jogged my memory of these epic wide-angle photographs in Breaking Unhealthy—empty roads, large skies, and plenty of cinematic drama!

Over a couple of days, I crossed the hovering Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, relaxed within the sizzling springs within the quirky city Fact or Penalties, hiked the traditional trails of Frijoles Canyon, and admired the colourful cliffs at Ghost Ranch.

• Location: West of the state
• Map Location
• Greatest time to go to: spring, summer season, fall or winter

My private highlights…

• Staying in a single day on the peaceable mountain hideaway The Inn at Ten Thousand Waves – it was a fantastic expertise soaking within the open-air Japanese onsen beneath the celebrities, slipping right into a yukata gown, and enjoyable by my room’s cozy kiva fire after a blissful hinoki oil therapeutic massage!

12. Acoma Pueblo Village

Perched on a excessive desert mesa, Sky Metropolis felt like a step again in time in addition to being a novel sort of magnificence spot – its timeworn adobe houses, historical footpaths, and panoramic views gave it a strong, peaceable presence that felt each sacred and really nonetheless!

My highlights…

• Seeing inside a village house – it had thick adobe partitions for insulation, tiny home windows, uncovered picket vigas, and cabinets full of handmade pottery, woven baskets, and strings of dried crimson chilies.

13. The Taos Mountain Path

I believed this high-altitude path as much as New Mexico’s highest peak was completely beautiful—lined with wildflower meadows, dense pine and aspen forests, and nonstop views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It felt wild, peaceable, and splendidly distant.

The drive from the bridge to Taos Ski Valley took simply half-hour, nevertheless it was attractive—alpine meadows and dramatic peaks lined the way in which to the trailhead and I stayed for 2 nights on the cool 4-star Blake at Taos Ski Valley.

I spent my time right here spent mountaineering from Taos Ski Valley to Wheeler Peak’s summit—via wildflower dotted meadows, pine-lined switchbacks, and panoramic views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I did the 7.5-mile route in about 4 hours, however chatted with hikers doing the complete 15-mile spherical journey, which they mentioned took 6 to eight hours.

• Deal with: 6 W. D. Street, Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525
• Location: northern a part of the state
• Map Location
• Size: 7.5 miles a technique (or 15 miles spherical journey) 
  

My highlights…

• Lastly reaching the summit – I used to be blown away by the 360-degree views – jagged Sangre de Cristo ridgelines, glimmering alpine lakes, the distant deep Rio Grande Gorge, and golden meadows which stretched out like an Insta-worthy patchwork quilt!

14. Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railway

I used to be in awe of this historic steam prepare – the journey was pure nostalgia and beautiful too, with its classic automobiles winding via breathtaking mountain landscapes, historical forests, inexperienced meadows, spectacular canyons, and high-altitude passes that made it really feel like a journey via a picturesque postcard! 

I drove 3 hours east from Shiprock to the mountain city of Chama, the place I based mostly myself for 2 nights on the charming and distinctive Sterling & Sage Visitor Home.

I rode the Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railway for a full day, spending six scenic hours within the open gondola automobile – stopping for lunch at Osier Station, crossing the towering Cascade Trestle, and watching the steam engine carve its path via the dramatic Toltec Gorge. It had a captivating, old school vibe that was good for slowing down and simply kicking again and soaking in New Mexico’s mountain surroundings.

I used to be additionally blown away by the views – the rugged Rocky Mountains and deep canyons all rolled previous. The expertise appeared to attraction everybody, from children on household outings to romantic {couples} on distinctive date adventures! 

My highlights…

• Eating within the buffet cart after we stopped at Osier Station – I particularly beloved the hearty Inexperienced Chile Enchiladas, the superbly seasoned Pinto Beans, and the candy potato salad which had a touch of cinnamon and crunchy pecans!

15. El Malpais Nationwide Monument

I believed this huge protected space was a placing magnificence spot for its large, rugged panorama of historical lava flows, towering sandstone cliffs, hidden ice caves, and dramatic volcanic craters, all formed by fiery eruptions and erosion. It had a wild, untamed really feel – to me it felt distant, uncooked, and humbling,

I continued 40 minutes west from Acoma to succeed in South West Motel in Grants – simply 25 minutes from the monument – driving via rugged terrain with glimpses of historical lava fields, then spent your entire day exploring this wild, volcanic panorama. 

I tackled the Lava Falls Path, stepped into the chilly Bandera Ice Cave, marveled on the hovering La Ventana Pure Arch, and located historical petroglyphs carved into the canyon partitions of Cebolla.

My favourite highlights…

• Going contained in the Bandera Ice Cave lava tube was freezing, however seeing the thick green-tinged ice, misty air, and large icicles hanging from the jagged partitions made it really feel otherworldly (and price a go to for positive)!

16. Carlsbad Caverns Nationwide Park

I believed this family-friendly attraction was completely extraordinary—an unlimited, otherworldly underground world with towering chambers, intricate limestone formations, glistening stalactites and stalagmites, and a dramatic descent via its ‘pure entrance’. I beloved how the entire place had a mysterious, awe-inspiring vibe!

I drove from White Sands to my Carlsbad base Hyatt Home which took three hours and wound via the sweeping Chihuahuan Desert, with countless views of sun-scorched hills, craggy outcrops, and brilliant pockets of desert flowers alongside the way in which.

It was only a 30 minute drive from my lodge and I spent the day exploring the Large Room’s towering limestone formations, mountaineering the steep Pure Entrance Path, watching hundreds of bats swirl into the sky throughout the Bat Flight Program, and strolling the peaceable Rattlesnake Springs Path.

• Deal with: 727 Carlsbad Caverns Hwy, Carlsbad, NM 88220
• Map Location
• Greatest time to go to: spring, summer season or fall
  

My highlights…

• Seeing hundreds of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from the cave at nightfall – it was each a severely surreal and barely scary second! 

17. Chaco Tradition Nationwide Historic Park

Relationship from 900 to 1150 AD and now a UNESCO World Heritage Website, this surreally lovely gem was set in an unlimited desert panorama dotted with historical sandstone ruins, intricate kivas, and grand ceremonial constructions – all framed by rugged mesas. I beloved how sacred, distant, and contemplative it felt right here!

I drove 3.5 hours north from El Malpais Nationwide Monument—alongside a mixture of paved and gravel roads—and spent a full day exploring this distant spot.

I spent the day exploring the large 600-room ruins of Pueblo Bonito, mountaineering up the Pueblo Alto Path for unimaginable views, visiting the traditional Nice Kiva at Casa Rinconada, gazing on the spiral petroglyphs etched into Fajada Butte after which lastly driving an hour and 45 minutes to my in a single day keep within the Greatest Western Territorial Inn & Suites. 

My favourite highlights…

• Mountaineering the 5.4-mile Pueblo Alto Path took me three hours, however I personally thought the rocky climb was price it for the superior views of historical ruins, scattered pottery shards, and detailed Chacoan petroglyphs alongside the way in which!

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